POLLSTERS DID NOT SPECULATE ON FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THE TREND. TOP INTERPRETING STORY ON NEWS4JAX.COM. THE MOTHER OF A MURDERED BRUNSWICK BOY NOW TALK BEING WHAT IT WAS LIKE SITTING IN THE SAME COURTROOM AS HER CHILD'S ACCUSED KILLERS. LAWYERS ARGUED OVER SEVERAL KEY ISSUES AT A PRETRIAL HEARING. 13 MONTHS, A ANTONIO SANTIAG -- 13 MONTH OLD WAS SHOT TWO MONTHS AGO AFTER WHAT POLICE HAS CALLED A BOTCHED ROBBERY ATTEMPT. THE JUDGE DID NOT YET SET A TRIAL DATE BUT WE DO EXPECT IT TO START SOMETIME IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS. SO TODAY ATTORNEYS FROM BOTH SIDES DISCUSSED SEVERAL DIFFERENT THINGS WITH HIM WHICH THEY HOPE WILL BETTER THEIR CASE AS WE GET CLOSER TO THEIR BIG DAYS IN COURT. FIVE DIFFERENT DEFENDANTS SAT BEFORE A JUDGE TODAY WAITING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEIR FATE. DE MARCUS ELKINS. HIS SISTER IS THE ONLY ONE BONDED OUT OF JAIL. THE OTHERS IN CUSTODY. THEIR DEFENSE ATTORNEYS AND PROSECUTORS DISCUSSED THE MULT TIEWD OF THINGS TODAY WITH THE JUDGE LIKE WHEN THEY WILL GO TO TRIAL, IF THEY WILL BE TRIED TOGETHER OR SEPARATELY, AND WHETHER OR NOT THE TRIAL WILL TAKE PLACE IN BRUNSWICK OR IF IT WILL BE MOVED. BOTH PROSECUTORS AND DEFENDERS SAID THEY SUPPORTED A PARTIAL CHANGE OF VENUE BECAUSE THEY WERE WORRIED THAT LOCAL RESIDENTS WOULD COME INTO THE COURTROOM ALREADY BIASED ON ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER. WE LIKE TO SEE THE CASE TRIED HERE. CITIZENS OF GLYNN COUNTY DESERVE TO HAVE THE CASE TRIED HERE AT HOME. BUT WE DO BELIEVE WE NEED A JURY SELECTED FROM ANOTHER COUNTY. BOTH SIDES OF THE COURTROOM WANTED ONE, JUDGE STEPHEN KELLY DECIDED AGAINST THE GAG ORDER WHERE THOSE INVOLVED WOULD BE PROHIBITED FROM TALKING ABOUT THE CASE. HE OVERSAW PROSECUTORS HANDED OVER NEW EVIDENCE TO THE DEFENSE COUNSEL, STACKS OF DISC. THE JUDGE HASN'T DECIDED YET BUT SAID HE HOPES TO GET THE TRIAL STARTED THIS AUGUST. A DATE DE MARCUS ELKINS ATTORNEY AGREES WITH. WE FEEL A JURY WILL FIND HIM NOT GUILTY AND SET MINIMUM FREE. SHERRY WEST, THE MOTHER OF THE BOY SHOT, WHO WAS SHOT HERSELF, SAT TEARFUL PRAYING FORECLOSURE. I'M GLAD THAT THEY ARE STILL IN JAIL. THEY ARE WHERE THEY BELONG AND WE'RE HOPING FOR JUSTICE. SO AS YOU SAW, BOTH SIDES OF THE CASE REALLY WANTING TO GET THIS TRIAL OVER WITH. THE JUDGE TODAY DISCUSSED SEVERAL DATES. HE IS HOPING HE CAN START IT IN

De'Marquise Elkins and Dominque Lang are charged with murder in the death of 13-month-old Antonio Santiago. Three women related to Elkins were also at Wednesday's hearing.

Elkins' mother and sister, Karimah and Sabrina Elkins, are charged with tampering with evidence, while his aunt, Katrina Elkins, is charged with lying to police. Sabrina is the only one who has bonded out of jail.

Lawyers on both sides had several requests of the judge... things which they hope will help them prepare for their day in court.

The suspects' defense attorneys and prosecutors discussed a multitude of things with the judge at the hearing, such as when they'll go to trial, if they'll be tried together or separately, and whether or not the trial will take place in Brunswick or if it'll be moved.

Both prosecutors and defenders said they supported a partial change of venue because they are worried that local residents would come into the courtroom already biased on one side or the other.

"We'd like to see the case tried here," said Kevin Gough, De'Marquise Elkins' attorney. "The citizens of Glynn County deserve to have the case tried here at home, but we do believe we need a jury selected from another county."

Pictured left: Karimah, Katrina and Sabrina Elkins

Though both sides of the courtroom wanted one, Judge Kelley decided against a gag order, where those involved would be prohibited from talking about the case. He oversaw as prosecutors handed over new evidence to the defense counsel, stacks of discs said to contain interviews and crime scene evidence.

"We're pleased with the quick pace set for trial," Gough said. "Mr. Elkins looks forward to his day in court. We remain confident that the jury will find him not guilty and set him free."

All the while, Sherry West, the mother of Santiago who was shot herself, sat tearful in the front row, praying for closure.

"I'm glad that they're still in jail, that they're where they belong, and we're hoping for justice," West said. "We do need closure and the sooner they're sentenced the better."

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